Improvement in turbine water-wheels



Wwf? n .y L., n BMJ nl M/- /J l ma u W M M o0 m l A A 11.. M .w n L 0 m0www n/ M f e d I j 1 .hu n v wm T d DI m l Mw I|I. r ..l I G. M n L r Nw I .m -amm n I 2mm@ I I c M b H. n. m HA m M r I .um n e?, w m u H L Er w U TI Z5 m C n 1 3 A ,M ...fi L m M m J S HJW m I /IIW Hw mmf m GQ IHIML I 5 p5 H f m m 0f 2 E. Am m ...LL I 2 mw m 1 3 .v n I .vv

IUNITED STATES PATENT QEEICE.

JAMES GUMMING, or IoNE CITY, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN TURBlNEWATER-WHEELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 132,059, dated OctoberS, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES GUMMING, of -Ioue city, county of Amador,State of California, have invented an Improved Turbine- Wheel; and I dohereby declare the following description and accompanying drawing aresufcient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which itmost nearly appertains, to make and use my said invention or improvementwithout further invention or experiment. a

The object of my invention is to provide an improvement inturbine-wheels by which I am enabled at all times to regulate therelative size of the bucket to that of the gate, so that both areincreased and diminished alike. This is accomplished by the peculiarconstruction of compound sluice-gates attached toa ring andguide-plates, so as to retain the same angle for the water to impingeupon the wheelbuckets, and also to deliver the water in a smoothcompressed current upon the buckets at all points of elevation of thegates. These gates arevto be used between the guide-plates of thewheel-case and also between the buckets of horizontal discharge-wheels,so as to increase or diminish the capacity of the aper- -tures of thesluices and wheels, as required.` vMy invention further relates to theapplication of hinged buckets to downward or upward discharge-wheels, soas to diminish or increase the capacity of the apertures of the wheel. Ahollow shaft or casing is iixed around the wheel-shaft, so as to revolvewith it and at the same time be capable of elevation and depression,carrying with it the devices for operating the guide-plates abovementioned.

Referring to the accompanying drawing for a more complete explanation ofmy invention,

Figure lis a side elevation, showing the relative opening of theguide-plates in the wheel and casing in the horizontal discharge-wheel.Fig. 2 is a section, showing the manner of operating the plates of bothhorizontal and vertically-discharging wheels, and Fig. 3 is a side viewof the guide-plates of a verticallydischarging wheel.

In the present case only two buckets of each class and the gates areshown, in order to simplify and more easily explain the invention.A

A is the case of the wheel, and B the wheel which has a vertical shaft,G, and the proper steps and supporting boxes. A casing or hollow sleeve,D, surrounds this shaft, moving up and down on a feather so as to turnwith the shaft, and a lever, E, extends across the supporting-frame, soas to be near the shaft, and a suitable clutch, F, serves to elevate ordepress the sleeve, so as to open or close the buckets. A spring, G,keeps the sleeve down and prevents the force of the water from openingthe buckets wider than desired. The gates in the casing are operated bythe same lever, as will be hereafter described. The guideplates in thehorizontally-dischargin g buckets are constructedof a metal plate, bentso as 'to conform to the shape of the bucket, as shown, and forming ahorizontal diaphragm, H, and an outer face or plate, I, to thebucket-opening. When the diaphragm lies upon the bot. tom of the bucketthe vertical plate completely closes the bucket-opening, and when anysize of opening is desired the diaphragm is raised to the proper pointby the elevating device, and serves as an adjustable top to the buckets,the portion above the diaphragm being always closed by the verticalplate I. By this arrangement the shape of the bucket always remains thesame with the exception of the depth, and thus always presents'the sameangle for the water to impinge upon. A plate or disk, J, extends outwardfrom the sleeve D and is secured to each of the guide-plates, or ifpreferred, an arm for each of the guideplates may be employed, and whenthe lever is elevated it will be manifest that the bucket-opening willbe more or less enlarged.` The gates in the casing which supply thewater to the wheel are fitted with diaphragms K and vertical plates L,similar to those in the buckets. One or more arms, m, connect with aring, n, to which theseplates are secured, and the arms are suitablyconnected with the operatin g lever, so that both sets of diaphragms andplates in the buckets and casing are simultaneously opened or closed. Ifthe wheel be an upward or downward discharge-wheel it will be manifestthat the construction of the buckets will be slightly changed. In thiscase the bottom plate H ofthe bucket is hinged at l? to the back, and anarm, 4", extends inward from each of these bottom plates. By means of alink, s, this arm is connected with the arm m', which would in this casehave to be pivoted at t, so as to act as a lever, and when the operatinglever E is raised the outer end of the plate m will be depressed, so asto open the discharge of the bucket in the same proportion that the gateis opened. The advantage claimed for this Wheel over other turbines isits greater efficiency When the sluices are partly closed. In all otherturbines the Water enters the buckets under circumstances involvinggreat loss of effect, because the Water entering the bucket finds a muchgreater sectional area than, at. its velocity, it can ll. It thereforegets into an irregular oscillating motion, and not only does notdischarge With the proper velocity, but loses a part of its activeforce, which is absorbed in creating the eddying irregular motion, andin other Ways. This is all overcome in my wheel, the buckets beingalways full with much or little Water. It has also greater simplicity ofconstruction otWheel-case, guide-plates, and gates, lessening the costof construction and not being liai ble to get out of repair.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. The guide-plates of the buckets consisting of the diaphragm H andplate I, when constructed to operate substantially as v and for thepurpose herein described.

2. In combination With the guide-plates, as described, I claim the diskor arm J, and the sleeve or casing D, together with the operating-leverE, substantially as described.

3. The gates or sluices having the diaphragm K and plate L, and the ringa, connested with the operating-lever, substantially as and for thepurpose above described.

4. The combination of a Wheel havin g variable buckets, as shown, andthe adjustable supply-gates, When constructed and operated substantiallyas herein described.

In Witness 'whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal.

JAMES OUMMING. lL. s]

Witnessesz L. Bansin, J. W. MeMUnnY.

